92% of Teens Seeking Help to Quit Vaping Also Use Cannabis
Among 223 youth seeking help to quit nicotine vaping, 92% had used cannabis and 69% used it in the past month, with heavier cannabis use linked to more frequent nicotine vaping.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
92.4% reported lifetime cannabis use, 68.6% past-month use. Cannabis smoking and vaping were both highly prevalent (lifetime ~91%, current ~63% each). Heavier cannabis use and preferring smoked cannabis were associated with more frequent nicotine vaping. Average readiness to quit cannabis was 6.3/10.
Key Numbers
223 youth, mean age 17.3. Lifetime cannabis: 92.4%. Past-month: 68.6%. Current smoking cannabis: 63.6%. Current vaping cannabis: 63.1%. Prefer smoking: 58.7%. Readiness to quit cannabis: 6.3/10.
How They Did This
Survey of 223 Connecticut youth (mean age 17.3) who completed intake for a vaping cessation study, assessing cannabis products used, reasons, frequency, and readiness to quit.
Why This Research Matters
Youth seeking help to quit vaping are overwhelmingly co-using cannabis. Vaping cessation programs that ignore cannabis use may be less effective.
The Bigger Picture
This study reinforces the complementary relationship between vaping and cannabis use in teens. Cessation programs may need to address both substances simultaneously.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Convenience sample of youth already seeking cessation help, not representative of all teen vapers. Connecticut only. Self-reported data.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should vaping cessation programs routinely screen for and address cannabis use?
- ?Does quitting nicotine vaping increase or decrease cannabis use?
- ?Would integrated treatment for both substances improve outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 92% of teens seeking to quit vaping also use cannabis
- Evidence Grade:
- Descriptive study of a cessation-seeking sample; preliminary because it represents a specific subpopulation.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication using recent cessation study intake data
- Original Title:
- Use of cannabis among youth who vape nicotine.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 160, 108173 (2025)
- Authors:
- Davis, Danielle R(2), Bold, Krysten W(4), Wu, Ran, Morean, Meghan E, Kong, Grace, Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06302
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many teens who vape also use cannabis?
The study found that heavier use of one substance was associated with heavier use of the other. Common reasons for cannabis use included getting high, improving sleep, and social situations. The substances may share common risk factors and social contexts.
Do these teens want to quit cannabis too?
Average readiness to quit cannabis was 6.3 out of 10, indicating moderate motivation. This suggests many would be receptive to cannabis interventions alongside vaping cessation.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06302APA
Davis, Danielle R; Bold, Krysten W; Wu, Ran; Morean, Meghan E; Kong, Grace; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra. (2025). Use of cannabis among youth who vape nicotine.. Addictive behaviors, 160, 108173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108173
MLA
Davis, Danielle R, et al. "Use of cannabis among youth who vape nicotine.." Addictive behaviors, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108173
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Use of cannabis among youth who vape nicotine." RTHC-06302. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/davis-2025-use-of-cannabis-among
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.